We know. It’s sad news for everyone. But the breakout star of House of the Dragon season two, episode one, Lord Cregan Stark, played by Tom Taylor, won’t be back again this season. House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal and Taylor himself confirmed this message, citing that the introduction of Cregan Stark was just a tease… for now. There’s a lot of story to tell on House of the Dragon season two, after all. Here’s what we know about when we’ll see Cregan Stark again in House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 Introduces Lord Cregan Stark (But Only for a Scene)
It’s always good to see a Stark on a Game of Thrones series. Although Starks are prone to hold onto honor to the point of stupidity, they definitely provide a moral center in a lawless universe. After House of the Dragon season two’s first episode, fans reacted strongly to seeing Winterfell, hearing the Stark theme play, and, of course, meeting Lord Cregan Stark.
Cregan Stark’s honorable ways match those of his descendants, whom we meet on Game of Thrones. He promises Jacaerys Velaryon, aka Jace, that he will keep his oaths and send soldiers to support Rhaenyra Targaryen in her claim to the throne. However, he also implies that he’s aware of the much greater threat to the Game of Thrones universe: death that brews in the north. This subtle intimation nods to a much deeper connection between the Starks and the Targaryens.
Sadly, the present connection is cut short, as Jace and Cregan’s time abruptly ends after harrowing news is delivered from the south. After word of his brother’s death, Jace and the audience depart from Winterfell, leaving everyone to wonder when we might see Lord Cregan Stark return to House of the Dragon. After episode one, it feels like Cregan Stark’s House of the Dragon return should be imminent, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer than that.
Winterfell Was Always in the Plans for Episode One of House of the Dragon Season 2, But the Narrative Only Allowed for So Much
In Fire and Blood, the George R.R. Martin novel that House of the Dragon is based on, there are differing accounts of what might have happened between Jace and Lord Cregan Stark in Winterfell. Of course, Fire and Blood is designed as a history and not a first-hand account, leaving room for the series to change things as makes sense for the TV narrative. In this case, we see neither blood oaths nor bastards appear on the scene. Instead, the encounter is quite streamlined. The show’s creators share that while they wanted to offer a taste of Cregan Stark, Winterfell, and Jace’s political beginnings, there was a lot of other story to get into in House of the Dragon. And thus, there’s no more room for Cregan Stark in season two of House of the Dragon.
Condal reveals, “We definitely always wanted that scene. For a long time, I think going back to filming season 1, I had it in my head that that was going to be the opening sequence of season 2. But as fun as that sequence is, beyond Cregan agreeing to send soldiers South, there isn’t any real inherent drama in that scene. He’s already sworn for Rhaenyra. We know that Starks are never going to go back on an oath, no matter which Stark swore it. So it’s more of a sequence to bring us back into the world, be in a place where we’re ahead of Jace — we know his brother is dead, he does not yet know it — and the fun fan service of going to the North and seeing that.”
Condal adds, “[The scene in the show] was the version that gets all the information that you need: it’s a political victory for Jace, we introduce Cregan, we understand his quandary with winter coming and having to release troops, and all that. We have so many other POVs to cover and satisfy on both Black and Green side. That was always the appropriate amount of story.”
Sara Hess, Condal’s lead writing partner, further surmises, “We end season 1 with Luke’s death, and that’s where we want to be. Jace very quickly gets that news. It didn’t feel right to end season 1 with Luke dying and then just be at Winterfell for a really long time when you’re dying to know what’s going on with Rhaenyra. When you see that look, Rhaenyra gives at the end of season 1, how much time do you want to spend away from that? We definitely had to pick our narratives there.”
Will We See Lord Cregan Stark Again in House of the Dragon Season 2?
Alas, this departure from Winterfell will last longer than one episode. It sounds like Lord Cregan Stark will not return again in House of the Dragon season two. Although given his place in the narrative and the audience’s strong reaction to him, we will likely see Cregan Stark back in future seasons of the Game of Thrones show, potentially even in season three.
Condal reveals about Cregan Stark’s House of the Dragon season three future, “We’ll see how that plays. Anybody who reads the books knows that he does play a role in the larger Dance of the Dragons. I would love to have Tom back. We really enjoyed working with him, but I think we need to play the story out a bit and see where it takes us.”
That’s not a yes, but it’s also not a no. Taylor himself shares, “I was just itching to do more, as well. I was in the costume. I was like, ‘I just want to keep acting.’ But, yeah, it’s just a little tease for now.”
A little tease that had major impact. Even if we don’t get to see Lord Cregan Stark again on House of the Dragon season two, we will definitely still be wondering what manner of things are transpiring in the north.
